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Patriots Trade 2028 First-Round for A.J. Brown

6/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Patriots acquired A.J. Brown on June 1, sending a 2028 first-round and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Brown, who turned 29 on June 30, led drills and caught two touchdown passes during mandatory minicamp.
General manager Bill Maye said Brown’s Super Bowl experience, size, and leadership give the team a stature like Stefon Diggs last year.
Brown and Maye will hold extra throwing sessions before training camp begins on July 25.

History

Historical Context

In 2010 the New England Patriots acquired Pro Bowl receiver Randy Moss after the Vikings traded a third-round draft pick to New England. The move echoed the league-wide trend of bolstering offenses with star receivers, a pattern the Patriots repeated in 2024 by adding A.J. Brown and that the San Francisco 49ers followed in 2012 when they signed Moss after his brief retirement.

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Story summary

Patriots acquired A.J. Brown on June 1, sending a 2028 first-round and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Brown, who turned 29 on June 30, led drills and caught two touchdown passes during mandatory minicamp.
General manager Bill Maye said Brown’s Super Bowl experience, size, and leadership give the team a stature like Stefon Diggs last year.
Brown and Maye will hold extra throwing sessions before training camp begins on July 25.

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